I have a number of travel posts to do–and I am behind. But after the devastating earthquakes of February 6th it felt inappropriate and insensitive to post about fun travel times. I can’t say that today it is “right” to do so, but life does go on and I know no better way to honor those who were lost in the disaster than to live my life fully, while I have it. We just don’t know when our number could be up. Global events over these last three years have made that crystal clear.
Therefore, I will start with my final travel of 2022 which included a quick trip to a new-to-me country.
We were lucky to have a three day weekend from ACI for Christmas this year. For us foreigners it is a kind thing that Türkiye does–giving us an extra day to observe “our” holiday. Because there are direct flights from İzmir to London, I decided to hop up to the UK to visit Servet for the weekend, and to have an initial introduction to the city. I did not see so many things–I only had two full days on the ground–but it was still a nice chance to get out of town and see some place new. And it’s always nice to see my leading man. 😉
Servet and his cousin Serdal, whom I first met when I traveled to Osmaniye with Servet in January 2021, picked me up from the Stansted airport and we kicked it off with a full English Breakfast at a local joint they frequent. I ordered every meat on the menu. While I can purchase pork products here in Türkiye, it was nice to be in a place where pork is on the menu! It was delicious and I most certainly cleaned my plate. 😋
Servet took me into the city on my first evening and we walked around Soho and Westminster. I enjoyed all of the Christmas decorations, stepping into a beautiful church to feel the season, and having the chance to ride the red double-decker buses. I have to confess that I thought they were only tourist buses–the hop-on, hop-off city tour type. But NO, they are the normal, everyday public buses. I was that ignorant/uniformed before going. This is why travel can be so important, right? I even watched a man transport his Christmas tree home via public bus.
We enjoyed Chinese (American/Western style) at a little all-you-can-eat buffet (Servet’s preference–have to get your money’s worth!) after our explorations around Chinatown and through a little Christmas market set up on a square. There were plenty of people out and about and we blended right into the fray. I have to say that I am endlessly charmed by this man’s British English with a sometimes Turkish accent or twist!
It was rainy on Friday and therefore we mostly relaxed at home, only going out in the afternoon/evening to do some shopping and have a quick beer (me) and a coffee (Servet). Also of note, he passed a very stubborn (and not so tiny 😮 ) kidney stone while we were having our beverages at a family owned restaurant (Kervan Saray in the Wood Green area) and watching the holiday shoppers pass by.
Later on we hosted a grill and rakı night at home on Servet’s balcony with Serdal and another Turkish friend. Yes, I was in London, but it was Türkiye in all other respects.
On Saturday, my other full day, we did head into Westminster where I got to walk around and see Big Ben and the London Eye. On the way home to Finsbury Park we stopped in at the bookstore (again)–it was HEAVEN to be able to visit a large English bookstore, especially during the Holiday season–where I snagged multiple titles.
I also had the pleasure of walking past 84 Charing Cross Road-which was the title of the first book we read this year for book club. It is now a McDonald’s 🥲 but there was the plaque on the building to note its historic and literary importance. There is also a movie based on the book featuring Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft. It’s a gem! I saw the movie years ago, but can say I enjoyed reading the book all these years later.
On Christmas Day I made my way back to the airport which proved to be expensive. While the buses and some trains were closed down because of the holiday, the others were also closed because of a strike going on in the country. This is not something I thought to check before travel. Therefore I ended up paying for a pricey, albeit comfortable, Uber ride from Finsbury Park to the airport. The roads were empty and quiet as I’m sure everyone was waking up to unwrap stockings and presents and to enjoy coffee and festive breakfasts. I can say that as I looked into neighborhoods from the highway that they did look so much like Harry Potter’s neighborhood on Privet Drive.
I was home Christmas evening and back to work on Monday morning. There is so much to see and do in London and I will hope to visit again and put my Oyster card to work to see the various historic and literary sites that matter to me. It’s not a bad thing to have a boyfriend with a flat, located near a bus stop and the Underground, which I have access to whenever I can make another trip. Until then, I hope this post finds everyone healthy and happy! More posts soon, I promise.
